BY BRIAN MUGENYI Mugenyijj@gmail.com
KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, has directed Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Town Clerks across the country to enforce an immediate and orderly handover of offices from outgoing Parish and Village Council leaders to their newly elected successors.
Mr. Kumumanya emphasized that the role played by the new Local Council (LC1 and LC2) structures is vital to daily governance, requiring swift assumption of duty to avoid crippling public service delivery.
The directive comes on the heels of Uganda’s recent grassroots elections—with Parish Council polls held on July 28, 2026, and Village Council elections concluded on August 10, 2026—bringing a fresh wave of leaders into the core of the country’s decentralization architecture.
For Kumumanya, however, the conclusion of an election marks the beginning of an administrative duty: transferring executive power without halting government operations.
In a circular dated August 14, 2026 (Ref: LCD/102/104/01), Kumumanya ordered that the swearing-in, handover, and official takeover at Parish and Village levels be completed within 14 days from the circular’s date.
The Ballot Has Spoken; Governance Must Continue
While elections have changed the faces in local administration, public needs remain unchanged. Community roads still require maintenance, local sanitation challenges persist, neighborhood disputes demand mediation, and national development programs require active grassroots monitoring.
“The oath places a legal and moral responsibility on leaders before they begin exercising the authority entrusted to them by citizens,” Kumumanya stated, referencing the mandatory Oath of Allegiance under the Fourth Schedule to the Local Governments Act, Cap. 138.
Safeguarding Institutional Memory
Crucially, the Ministry’s directive demands that outgoing office bearers surrender all public property and administrative assets in their possession. Key among these are:
- Official rubber stamps and seal kits
- State-issued bicycles and motorcycles (where applicable)
- Official logbooks, registry archives, and administrative documents
The emphasis on institutional asset returns aims to prevent new administrations from restarting local government from scratch. Incoming leaders are expected to inherit functioning public institutions rather than vacant desks.
Comprehensive Handover Reports
To formalize the transition, Kumumanya instructed Parish Chiefs and Town Agents to actively assist outgoing leaders in drafting detailed written handover reports within their respective jurisdictions.
These reports serve as operational roadmaps, outlining ongoing projects, unresolved administrative matters, and financial accounting. At the grassroots level, where major government programs are executed, a structured report ensures uninterrupted workflow.
The First Leadership Test
As campaign posters fade and celebrations wind down, the immediate focus shifts to administrative accountability.
For newly elected local leaders, the transition presents an immediate test of humility, constitutional compliance, and public trust. For outgoing officials, it demands a exit marked by dignity and strict accountability.
The ballot has delivered new office bearers; the handover process must now deliver continuous governance.
The post Outgoing Local Leaders Ordered to Hand Over Official Stamps and Public Assets to Ensure Service Continuity appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.